Ethics committee change

In a previous column, I suggested that the head of the ethics committee in the Senate be changed to prevent bias on his part with regard to the issue of determining the ethical practice of Sen. Manuel Villar. This controversy revolves around Senator Villar’s supposed hand in inserting provisions in the 2008 General Appropriations Act for the purpose of constructing two highways that pass through the senator’s properties in Las Pinas and Paranaque, thus benefiting the buyers of such properties. My question, reflecting that of many others, pointed to how the committee head, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, can be fair in making a judgment on the motivation of Villar’s supposed action when in fact Senator Lacson and some members of the committee have paraded themselves as presidentiables, just like Villar. 

The ethics committee also committed another miscue by judging the complaint of plunder filed against Villar by Sen. Jamby Madrigal, to have form and substance, and ordering Villar to submit his answer. This decision was made ahead of a committee hearing on the Villar case. Villar, understandably, refused to honor the order. So, the more reason the ethics committee cannot have the moral authority to handle the Villar controversy.

My theory is affirmed by Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., who demands that a revamp of the composition of the ethics committee be done. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, however, reacted to Pimentel’s demand, saying that he will not allow the majority to be dictated upon by the minority vis-à-vis the committee composition change. Pimentel had said over his radio program “Pimentel Reports” over RMN-DZXL, “We have not yet submitted our memo, and yet it appears that Manong Johnny has already made his decision.” He said, what was happening was similar to what the ethics committee had done. “Even before the committee had met, there was already an order signed by some of its members.”

A statement from Pimentel’s office said that the Senate leadership “should not show an adverse attitude toward the position of the majority on the issue because both sides should find ways to sort out the problem by seeing to it that the rules and procedures of the committee in conducting the investigation are faithfully complied with.” At this stage, the statement said, “the matter of the guilt or innocence of Mr. Villar is not at issue. What the minority is questioning now is the procedural process because “due process has been interpreted by our courts as not only substantive due process but also procedural due process.”

Pimentel said Villar has the right not to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the committee if he believes that most of the committee members, who are his rivals in the presidential race, are biased against him and disposed to nail him down. He wants the removal of Lacson as chairman and fellow presidentiables as members of the committee.

“The issue could not be settled by the majority asserting its numerical superiority because it transcends partisanship.”

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Below is a beautiful message forwarded by Atty. Fred Tadiar who had received it also by e-mail. It’s called “Lotus Touts,” and the message touches, because it is true, and realizable. A note accompanying the message says, “There’s some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you’re not superstitious. This Lotus Touts has been sent to you for good luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so far.”

“1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

“2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

“3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

“4. When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it.

“5. When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye.

“6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

“7. Believe in love at first sight.

“8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

“9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

“10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

“11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

“12. Talk slowly but think quickly.

“13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, ‘Why do you want to know?’

“14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

“15. Say ‘bless you’ when you hear someone sneeze.

“16. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

“17. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

“18. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

“ 19. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

“20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

“21. Spend some time alone.”

Readers are enjoined to pass on this message, and many nice surprises will come their way. I believe this. So do you. So let’s do it!

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My e-mail:[email protected]